A performance staged at the ceremony. (Photo: VNA) The practices were officially inscribed in the UNESCO RepresentativeList of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2019.
Addressing the ceremony, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmedthe accreditation is a national brand that the world has reserved for Vietnam, therebycontributing to the introduction of special cultural heritages in the northernmountainous region to international friends and making this area more attractiveto tourists.
It also helps ethnic communities in 11 localities housingthe heritage understand more about Then’s value and come up with practicalmeasures for its conservation and promotion in association with the growth ofthe tourism industry, the State leader said.
Highlighting the importance of preserving the heritage, hesuggested the localities involved pay attention to building communicationsprogrammes, creating favourable conditions for Then artists to educate younger generations, and collecting and publishing related ancient documents.
According to UNESCO, Then, an essential ritual practice inthe spiritual life of the Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic minority groups in Vietnam, reflectsconcepts about human beings, the natural world and the universe. Thenceremonies describe a journey in which the Then Master (male or female)controls ghost soldiers travelling from the earth realm to the heaven realm, tooffer items of worship and present their prayers for peace, for treatingillnesses, good crops, a happy new year, etc.
Then is always transmitted orally while its rituals areconducted, reflecting its succession between the generations, and Then Mastersplay a key role in passing on the related skills and know-how, with someconducting around 200 ceremonies a year./.
VNA
